Category Archives: Recipes

Aug30

Sausage Stew

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Ingredients

  • 4 Sausages, cut into 1 inch pieces (we used Costco’s Apple/Gouda Chicken Sausages)
  • 2 Large potatoes, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 Medium onion, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 can of chicken broth/stock
  • 1 large can of diced tomatoes in their juices
  • 1/4 cup red lentils (optional, we had some…I threw them in to see what happened)
  • 1-2 Tbs. butter
  • 2 pressed cloves of garlic
  • A few sprinkles of red pepper flakes
  • A few sprinkles of salt & white pepper
  • 1 bay leaf (pulled out before serving)
  • 2 sprigs of fresh oregano (on the stem, pulled out before serving – use a tsp of dry otherwise)
  • 1 sprig of fresh thyme (on the stem, pulled out before serving – use 1/2 tsp of dry otherwise)

Also, I would’ve loved to put some carrots or turnips in here, but alas, we had none.  I think the carrots in particular would enhance the flavor.

Directions

  1. Throw it all in the crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

While I enjoyed this out of the pot, I couldn’t get enough of it on the second day when I took it for lunch. By the time I thought about taking a picture I was slurping down the last few drops of golden buttery broth.  I will try to remember next time.

Aug29

Poached Pears

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IMG_1431

Ingredients

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 Tbs. wildflower honey
  • 1 Tbs. real maple syrup
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 vanilla bean, seeds removed – reserving both the seeds and the pod
  • 1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped or grated (less if you find ginger to be strong)
  • Handful of blueberries
  • 2 firm pears, cored with skins peeled off (skins and core can be composted or used as an ingredient to flavor the liquid)

Directions

  1. Add all but the pears to a pot large enough to submerge the pears and bring to a boil.  (I used a high walled but small pot that made it easier to evenly cook the pears – however the lack of surface area caused the syrup to take longer to reduce).
  2. Turn the heat down to a simmer and gently add the peeled pears (as they cook they will become easier to bruise).  Place a lid on the pot and let simmer for 20-30 minutes (I let them cook while I made dinner).  Alternately you could put them in an oven-safe pot and let them bake at 250 for several hours.
  3. When pears are soft (20-30 minutes on stove top), gently remove them from the sauce and let them cool.
  4. Strain out the solid contents and keep the liquid in the pot – placing over medium heat and allowing it to reduce (stirring regularly) to your desired syrup thickness – I like mine to coat a spoon.  Now – you can keep the blueberries to serve, but we composted ours – they looked too much like Violet Beauregarde for my taste.
  5. Spoon syrup over pears and serve.

This would be great serving with some whipped cream or ice cream!

Aug28

Chicken & Vegetable Soup

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IMG_1437

Ingredients

  • 1/2 gallon chicken stock, homemade is highly recommended but not necessary
  • 4-5 carrots, chopped (I like slicing diagonally)
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped (1/4 inch thick, including leaves)
  • 1/4 large celery root, thinly sliced
  • 1 bunch green onions, sliced
  • 1/4 head green cabbage, sliced into ribbons
  • 3 cups shredded chicken (left over from roasted chicken)
  • 1 tsp white pepper
  • A few large pinches of salt

Directions

  1.  Heat stock in a large soup pot.  Add carrots and bring to a boil.
  2. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.  Add remaining veggies and simmer for another 5 minutes.
  3. Add shredded chicken and heat for another 5-10 minutes.
  4. Serve Hot.  Reheats well, but loses color.

This would also be great with a tablespoon of tomato paste or a few eggs dropped into the broth.

Aug27

Quinoa Stir-fry

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup quinoa (rinsed well)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup beef stock
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 3 garlic gloves, minced
  • 2 carrots, peeled and diced small
  • 2 sticks celery, diced small
  • 2 1/2 cups cabbage, shredded
  • 2-3 green onions, sliced
  • 2 Tbs. coconut oil
  • 2 Tbs. olive oil
  • 2 tsp. fish sauce
  • 1 tsp. soy sauce (optional – no soy for us)
  • 1/2 tsp 5 spice powder (optional – we had it)
  • Large pinch of salt
  • Fresh Pepper, to taste
  • Small handful cilantro, shredded (optional – we had it)

Directions

  1. Combine quinoa, 1 cup fresh water and beef stock in a small stock pot.  Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and let cook until fluffy, about 20 minutes.
  2. In the mean time, prep/cut vegetables.
  3. Heat oils and sauces in a pan (or wok) on high heat.  Add onions, garlic, and spices (not cilantro) until aromatic.  Add vegetables and cook for 10 minutes or so – stirring occasionally.  Add quinoa and allow to cook through.
  4. Add cilantro and serve.
Aug26

Sausage, Rice & Beans

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SRB

This is a cheap and easy, but not fast, dinner (45-60 minutes of cook time).  I enjoy making dinners like this because I only use one dish, can catch up on some TV shows, and have leftovers for lunch the next day.  I like to complete each step during a commercial break; its really a hands-off dinner.  Depending on the ingredients you use (generics/homegrown vs. organic) it can cost between $0.84 and $3.29 per serving for 6 large servings.

 Ingredients

  • 4 cups stock (any flavor or water)
  • 2 cups brown rice
  • 1 cups dried azuki beans (any bean is fine, but these cook around the same rate as rice, making it easier)
  • 7 sausages, cut to 1 in pieces (adjust number for your audience – we used a pack of andouille chicken sausage from costco)
  • 1 large can diced tomatoes (I use a quart of home canned)
  • 1 can corn (I use a pint of home canned)
  • 1 diced pepper (any pepper is fine, we used a Serrano with the seeds removed)
  • 1/4 cup of taco seasoning

Directions

  1. Optional – soak rice & beans the night before in water with a Tbs. of acid (vinegar, whey, lemon juice, etc.) to break down some indigestibles.
  2. Bring stock or liquid to a boil in a large pan.  Add rice and beans and bring to a boil again before reducing the heat to a simmer for 15-20 minutes.
  3. Add tomatoes (and juices), corn, pepper & seasoning.
  4. Add sliced sausages and let cook until rice and beans are tender.  Stir occasionally.
Aug25

Broccoli & Cauliflower Gratin

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IMG_1561

Adapted from Barefoot in Paris

Ingredients

  • 1 head cauliflower, cut into large florets
  • 1 head broccoli, cut into large florets
  • 4 Tbs. butter (divided into 2 Tbs)
  • 3 Tbs. AP flour or cornstarch for Gluten Free
  • 2 cups hot milk
  • Kosher Salt
  • 1/2 tsp black better
  • 1/4 tsp grated nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan
  • 1/2 cup grated baby swiss
  • 1/2 cup grated muenster
  • 1/4 cup bread crumbs

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 (F).  Meanwhile, cook florets in a large pot of boiling salt water until tender but firm (5 min), drain.
  2. Add 2 cups of milk in a saucepan.  Meanwhile, melt 2 Tbs of butter in a second saucepan over low heat.  Add flour, stirring constantly for 2 minutes, making a rue.
  3. Pour hot milk into the rue and stir until it comes to a boil.  Boil, whisking constantly, until thickened.  Off the heat add a large pinch of salt, pepper, nutmeg and 1/2 cup of cheese.
  4. Pour about 1/3 of the sauce into the bottom of a baking dish, filling the dish with the drained florets.  Spread remaining sauce on top and sprinkle with the remaining cheeses and breadcrumbs.
  5. Drizzle 2 Tbs. melted butter of the top.  Bake for 25-30 minutes until browned.
Can be served hot or at room temp (read: a great make ahead meal).
Aug24

Bananas Brulee

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Ingredients

  • 2 bananas
  • 3 tsp vanilla sugar*
  • A kitchen blow-torch.  I think you could broil them in the oven, but I’ve not tried it.

Directions

  1. Slice the ends off each banana then cut them in half length-wise and width-wise so you’re left with 4 pieces per banana.
  2. Coat the cut edge of banana in the vanilla sugar (nestle it in).
  3. Peel the bananas and lay them, sugar side up, on a heat proof pan.
  4. Torch those babies in an even sweeping motion until the sugar caramelizes – don’t let it burn.
  5. Cool and enjoy!

*You can use regular white sugar, but we thought the hint of vanilla would add to our enjoyment.  I make my own vanilla sugar by stashing emptied/used vanilla bean pods in a small container of sugar.  I shake it and adjust every few months.

Aug23

Granola

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Granola

 

Ingredients

  • 3 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup slivered and shaved almonds
  • 1 cup raw sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut
  • 1-2 Tbs. cinnamon (to taste)
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup wildflower honey
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup real maple syrup

Directions

  1. Combine all ingredients well.
  2. Spread onto a baking sheet (on parchment paper) and bake at 250 (F) for 80 minutes, stirring every 20 minutes.

Delicious – and subtle.  I like that it doesn’t contain any sugar.

Aug22

Asparagus & Quinoa

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This dish is one of Devin’s favorite.  It goes great with a nice filet of seared salmon underneath.

Asparagus

 

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed
  • 1 cup water or stock
  • 1 lb. asparagus, rinsed and trimmed
  • 1 tsp. olive oil
  • 2 Tbs. butter
  • 1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp. soy sauce
  • salt & pepper

Directions

  1. Bring water, with a pinch of salt, to a boil.  Add quinoa and reduce heat to low.  Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.  When cooked, remove from heat.
  2. Toss asparagus in olive oil, salt, and pepper.  Bake in an oven-proof pan for 12 minutes or until tender.
  3. Brown butter in a heavy bottomed pan.  Be careful not to burn, but it should be a golden brown.
  4. Add vinegar and soy sauce and simmer until slightly thickened.  Poor over cooked asparagus.
  5. Top with quinoa and enjoy!